Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-12-09
MET BY CHANCE.


4A1As
Pretty, saucy Flora Parker went
swinging up and down, up and down,
her light, cambria dress waving and
huttering ia the breeze.
GLORIOUS. Rupert, isn't it?" she
cried, calling to her pet and companion,
a huge, shaggy, Newfoundland dog.
"But where are your Why don't you
answer sir 2" and swinging more slowly,
she looked everywhere around her.
Flora was down at the bottom of the
old-fashiOned garden, back of her
fathers farm house, where a swing had
been put mp for her, in little grove OF
trees
Suddenly. in answer to her inquiry,
q merry voice cried, "Herep and a
handsome young man leaped the low
fence and advanced toward her, laugh
ing and dofting his hat.
Flora was out of the swing and on
her feet in an instant, her eyes flashing.
her figure drawn mp to its full height.
She looked prettier than ever, in her
Indignation.
81 beg your pardon, said the in
truder, bowling half-mockingly; "but ]
was taking a short cut across the field
when 1 heard You call me-"
"Call' yOJL" Flora looked as if she
would annihilats him.
Certainly" with the utmost cool
ness, "yOu called Rupert didn't yOu?"
81 was calling my dog, sir, said
Flora, with infinite hatelD'.
well, I'm not exactly dog, was the
laughing answer, "but I've often been
called an impudent puppy At your
service, Miss and he again bowed pro-
foundly.
II should think so, snapped Flora,
and partly turning away muttered,
"such impudencel"
The stranger heard her and his man
ner changed. He became as serious
and deferential, as the most chivalrous
knight of 'ye Olden time, in the pres
ence of his mistress.
81 beg pardon. I'm afraid I'm tress-
passing. But the path through the
field was trodden as if one had the
right-of-Way there, and heard you
call-well, made a mistake" Again
the mirthful look danced in his eyes.
GOOD morningl"
He swept the very ground with his
hat as he executed another profound
bow, and then turned, and putting his
hand on the top of the fence, vaulted
over, and the next moment was out OF
sight
Flora did not swing any more that
day, but went back to the house, NUT
tering, "the impudent fellow" while
the real Rupert, who had been of
chasing a rabbit, re-appeared Just at
this iuncture, and accompanied her,
frolicking and barking around her.
But this was not the Rupert she meant
when she said the "impudent fellow. "
A week passed. Flora saw no more
Of the stranger, though she often Won
dered who he could be, and if he was
staying in the neighbOrhOOd. At the
end of that time she attended an even
ing party at Judge Stones. Almost
the first person she saw entering the
room was the handsome stranger.
al wish to introduce you to ms
nephew, said the Judge, leading thai
parsonage up to Flora "His name, by
baptism, is Rupert Morrison; but he Ii
such a saucy fellow that he has beer
known among his friends as that i'm
pudent puppy
The eyes Of the two young people
met Young Mr.. MorrisOn's were
dancing with fun. For the life Of hei
Flora could not help laughing. So
they laughed IN concert, and he said
bowling low and repeating the words hs
had used in the garden, "Yes, tina
impudent puppy'-at your service.
He is making sport of me, though
Flora to herself, and drew herself M
haughtily, and the rest Of the inter
view was cold and reserved, cOnfninl
herself to monosyllabic replies. Yer,
soon, at the appearance of one of he
many admirers, she excused hersel
and went OF to dance.
"a bit of q tartar, I'm afraid, solilo
Quized Rupert "But how pretty sh
is. She looks, too, as if she had nObl
character; and she can take her owl
part as I've found to my cost. But I'm
afraid she has been spoilt by admira
ton To get into her good graces ont
must 90 on his very knees to her; an,
faith it is almost worth while to do 1t
But no Rupert, my boy, keep you
self-respsct Then with a laugh. II
thy servant dog, that he should d.
this thing2"
Yet often that evening Rupert founC
himself, as if by some magnetic at
traction. down to FIora's side. Flora
tnS, could not help occasionally glanc
ing, admmingly, at his handsome fac
and graceful figure. She saw, VerI
soon, that he was the best dancer Il
the room. So, when q waltz struck up
and he asked her to Join in it she coulo
not resist. "lf / don't dance with him,
she said to herself, "the girls viii sa.
he didn't ask me- and that would neve
do"
Flora had never enjoyed a waltz s.
much. She forgot the ridiculou
episode in the swing, forgot tn
strangers cool eFrontery. forgot every
thing but the dreamy music, and tht
rhythmical movements of her com
panion. When the band stopped sh
sighed invOluntarily, wishing it was al
to 60 over again.
Balls, picnics, and tennis partie
followed each other IN quick succession
for the summer was a gay one. Flor
and Rupert were together almOa
constantly. Somehow Flora fell int
the habit of expecting Rupert alWay
as her special escort, and he began {
feel that no one but he had a right
Flora, and to be very Jealous Whe
others attempted to nav her attentions
As yet, however, no words of love ha
passed between them, for Rupert, no.
thoroughly ia love, feared to ruin al
by too premature an aVoWal; especial
as once or twice when he had venture
to breach the subject, Flora had SUD
denly grown naughty and cold
A final picnic had been planned
close the season. 1t proved a grea
success. The day passed merrily o
until luncheon time. Rupert had mad
up his mind to have a quiet randi
with Flora after this meal, and if thing
went we'll to speak of his love. BJ
he had reckoned without his host, fo
when luncheon was over aud he ha
QOtten nd of his amt Mrs Judo